As an entrepreneur and employee in Finland

In Finland, certain sectors are already experiencing a skills shortage. Häme Vocational Institute aims to address this skills shortage. In the Kanta-Häme region, various training sessions and activities have been organized through the Kulkeva and Haalari projects to improve the employment and integration of foreigners into Finnish working life. One of the goals of both projects has been to support employment and develop activities in the Kanta-Häme region. Labor migration and entrepreneurship in Finland often raise questions, and these have been discussed in connection with the projects. In the Entrepreneurship in Finland training held in the spring of 2024, immigrants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the basics of entrepreneurship. This blog discusses the practical permit and application procedures related to work and entrepreneurship.

The principle of free movement

When Finland joined the European Union in 1995, free movement entered into force (Free Movement Directive). An EU citizen thus has the right of free movement and no separate residence permit is required. There is, of course, an exception to this. If the stay lasts more than 3 months, registration of the stay is required (the registration of an EU citizen’s right of residence is regulated in Section 159 of the Aliens Act). Registration is done at the Immigration Office. The calculation of the deadline starts from the day the person arrived in Finland from outside the borders. The rules are a little different for Nordic citizens. If the stay lasts more than six months, registration is required, which is done at the Digital and Population Information Agency in Finland.

There are a few rules for longer stays, and free movement also comes with responsibilities. A longer-term stay requires that it does not cause an unreasonable burden on the social security system of another member state and does not endanger public order and security.

As an entrepreneur and employee in Finland

An EU citizen does not need a separate employee residence permit and can move to Finland as an employee, self-employed person, family member, or student. The condition for an EU citizen’s residence is sufficient funds to live in the destination country. Finland is also part of the Schengen area, so citizens of the countries within it do not need a visa. For longer stays, in addition to registration, a passport or identity card is required. Various clarifications may be required to show sufficient funds, such as a confirmation of employment from the employer, proof of self-employment, proof of funds, and health insurance.

Third country citizen

When a person from outside the EU wants to work or be an entrepreneur in Finland and is in the country for more than 90 days, they must apply for a residence permit. The application can be submitted to the Finnish mission before entering the country. If the permit is applied for in Finland, the permit is applied for at the Immigration Office (for example, if the person got married in Finland). A worker’s residence permit entitles the holder to work in one or more professional fields (Aliens Act 74 §). The residence permit is applied for either from the Finnish mission or from the Immigration Office, and it must be done by the applicant. The employer cannot make this application on behalf of the job seeker.

The EU Blue Card came into effect in 2012. High-income experts from third countries are entitled to this. The purpose of the procedure has been to improve and attract special experts to work in the EU area (Special Experts Directive OJEU L 155 18.6.2009 p. 17). The Blue Card grants the cardholder and their family a residence permit of up to 2 years. The salary paid for the work must be at least 1.5 times the average gross salary, and in 2021 the amount was 4929 euros.